Railway truck bolster



May 8, 1951 H. w. STERTZBACH RAILWAY TRUCK BOLS'I'ER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 26, 1948 H. w. STERTZBACH 2,552,019

RAILWAY TRUCK BOLSTER May 8, 1951 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed May 26, 1948 y1951 H. w. STERTZBACH 2,552,019

RAILWAY TRUCK BOLSTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 26, 1948 May 8, 1951 H.w. STERTZBACH RAILWAY TRUCK BOLSTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 26, 1948tension member of the bolster.

Patented May 8, 1951 RAILWAY TRUCK BOLSTER Barry W. Stertzbach,Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Go-

lumbus, Ohio Application May 26, 1948, Serial No. 29,321

Claims. 1

The present invention relates to bolsters adapted for use in railway cartrucks and more particularly pertains to such members which are arrangedtransversely of railway cars and extend between the side frames offour-wheel car trucks.

An early type of bolster for a railway car truck was formed with arolled steel channel compression member and a rolled plate-shapedtension member provided with a king post therebetween at the mid pointof the bolster span. Such a bolster when considered from a theoreticalstress standpoint was more properly a truss as distinguished from a.beam. Another development in the art has been that of a cast steelbolster somewhat similar in shape and arrangement and provided with anabrupt change in width at the zone where the tension member joined theside walls of the compression member. As the test requirements forbolsters progressively increased and as now required by the Associationof American Railroads, designs of the open side bolsters andbulb-section type of bolster havebeen gradually superseded by what isknown as the full box section type of bolster. In substantially all ofthe box section bolsters, a center post has been provided bearingdirectly and medially on the bottom member of the box section andsupporting the center plate adjacent the king pin opening. The centerpost transmits a portion of the burden imposed on the center plate tothe bottom or The center post while serving as an effectivereinforcement of the center plate is more or less an idle member in sofar as its utility in resisting beam bending is concerned. Other thanits function of supporting the center plate, the center post isobjectionable because it causes higher stresses where it is supported bythe bottom member. The center post arranged within the box section ofthe bolster also presents a number of disadvantages from a foundrypractice standpoint in casting the bolster.

One of the objects of the present invention is to devise a bolsterdevoid of a center post and to thereby remove its objectionablecharacteristics and at the same time retain the desirable function ofthe center post reinforcing the bolster in the vicinity of the centerplate by redistribution of the metal in the side walls and by overallreorganization of the bolster.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the weight of the bolsterand thereby reduce the cost of this member and at the same time providea bolster having proper load carrying characteristics with respect todeflection and stress limits 2 as required by the Association ofAmerican Railroads.

Another object of the invention is to so con struct a bolster for arailway car truck to carry the load on the center portion of the bolsterwithout the use of a center post and thereby remove the thrust imposedon the medial portion of the bottom member of the bolster by the centerpost.

A still further object of the invention is to so construct the bolsterthat the bottom member will be narrower at the central portion than thetop member and having side walls extending upwardly from the bottommember and joining the top member intermediate the side edges thereof soas to provide support for the center plate.

A further and more detailed object of the invention is to so constructthe bolster that the bottom wall will be relatively narrow and sodistribute the weight of the metal in the side walls and the bottommember particularly at the central portion of the bolster and toeliminate the center post without sacrificing any of the load carryingcharacteristics and at the same time providing a bolster that may bemorereadily cast in a molding operation and to remove a number of the metaljunctions in bolsters of the prior art.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more apparent as thepresent disclosure proceeds and upon consideration of the followingdetailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein severalexemplary embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a railway car truck bolster exhibiting theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of the bolster with thesection taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and omitting some of thereinforcing ribs to more clearly illustrate the depending side flanges.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the bolstershown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of that portion of the bolster shownin Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the bottom of the bolster.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified bolster.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the portion of the bolster shown inFig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an inverted plan view.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-10 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a furthermodification.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l2-l2 of Fig.4.

The present invention is directed to a bolster for a railway car truckof the four-wheel type and is so designed as to facilitate the castingof the bolster in a foundry operation. The molding of the bolster issimplified by the removal of the center post which has in the past beenmounted under the center plate for supporting a portion of the load onthe bottom or tension member of the bolster. Another feature of theinvention is to provide a bolster wherein the tension member issubstantially narrower throughout the central portion and to eliminatethe center post so as to reduce the weight of the bolster and therebyrender the manufacture less costly and at the same time to provide abolster having the necessary strength to resist deflection within thestandards required by the Association of American Railroads. Anotherfeature of the invention is to so distribute the metal particularly inthe central portion of the bolster and to so arrange the side walls inthis zone that the load imposed upon the center plate is distributedthrough the side walls to the bottom member without being transmitted tothe medial portion of the bottom plate. Another important characteristicof the invention pertains to the arrangement of the side walls at thecentral portion of the bolster inwardly from the side edges of the topor compression member.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 to 6, a bolsterexhibiting the invention and of a type which may be employed with abrake rigging for a railway car truck in which the brake leverconnecting rod passes under the bolster and accordingly centrally placedopenings through the bolster walls are not required in this "rods undertype. As shown in this portion of the drawings, the top is formed as aninverted channel having a top plate 12 and parallel downwardly extendingflanges I4 and H5. The central portion of the bottom member [8 ismaterially narrower in transverse width than the top plate I2. Thisbottom member l8 accordingly requires less metal than a box type bolsterand while the thickness thereof is slightly greater than the bottomplate of the old type bolster of the same capacity, this bottom plate [8requires less steel or metal in the formation of the bolster. The bottommember I8 may be provided with a plurality of openings I! and a centralopening l9 to reduce weight of the bolster. The bottom member of thebolster in the region of these openings is reinforced by ribs 2| and.23.

A bolster embodying the present invention includes side walls 20 and 22which are substantially vertical and extend upwardly from the edges ofthe bottom plate I8 and join the top member I2 inwardly of the dependingflanges I4 and IS. The bolster is provided with a center plate 24. Theside walls 20 and 22 by reason of the narrow spacing therebetween serveto provide suificient support for the center plate 24 and permit theavoidance of the usual center post construction as employed in mostprior types of commercially used bolsters. A king-pin pocket 25 isprovided within the bolster in vertical alignment with an opening 21 inthe center plate 24. The king pin pocket structure is supported by abridge 29 which extends transversely of the bolster and joins the sidewalls 20 and 22 as shown in Fig.2.

Outwardly from the central portion of the bolster the side walls 20 and22 terminate short of and do not extend entirely to the top plate 52 andopenings 26 are thereby formed in the bolster as shown particularly inFigs. 2 and i. In this region outwardly of the center, the side walls 28and 22 diverge from each other in proceeding outwardly from the centerof the bolster as will be apparent from the consideration of Fig. 5. Theside walls 20 and 22 ultimately attain the width of the top member l2 atapproximately the zone indicated by the line 28 in Fig. 4 which alsodefines the outer end of the openings 24. At this zone the side walls 20and 22 merge in common planes with the flanges l4 and i6. Beyond theline 28, the side walls 20 and 22 may continue to diverge from eachother in proceeding to the end of the bolster or these side walls may bearranged parallel to each other as shown in a modified bolster structureof Figs. 7 to 10. The shape and dimensions of the outer end por tion ofthe bolster may be altered as required for any particular load capacityor end structure desired for the bolster.

In carrying out the invention, the center plate '24 is further supportedby means of transverse ribs 30 extending between the side walls 28- and22 and ribs 32 extending between these side walls and the flanges I4 and[6 as shown particularly in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. The bolster may also beprovided with longitudinal ribbing as indicated at 34 and side bearingsupports 36 may be provided in the bolster. The bolster may be furtherlightened by openings 35 in the top plate l2 with the edges of theseopenings reinforced by ribs 31. The end structure of the bolster may bevaried as required for cooperation with any par ticular type of sideframe and the end structure shown in the drawings is merely for thepurpose of completing an illustration of the general overallorganization of the bolster.

The bolster shown in Figs. '7 and 10 is of the rods through type andrepresents another form for a railway car truck. In this embodiment, thecenter plate is indicated at 4|]- which is arranged at the mid-point ofthe top member 42 of the bolster. Throughout the central portion of thebolster, the top 42 is formed as an inverted channel having a top plateand substantially parallel downwardly depending flanges 44 and 46. Atthe central part of the bolster, the bottom member 48 is much narrowerthan the top plate 42. Substantially vertical side walls 5|] and 52extend upwardly from the edges of the bottom plate 48 and join the topplate 42 inwardly of the flanges 44 and 46 as shown in Fig. 10. Theseside walls 50 and 52 are thereby spaced relatively close to each otherand form some medial support under the center plate 40 and therebyreplace the usual center post construction which involves difiicultiesin the casting operation and which transmits a portion of the loadimposed on the center plate to the bottom member of the bolster. Theseside walls 5!] and 52 may be substantially parallel as shown in Fig. 10or these side walls may converge toward each other at the top portion asshown in Figs. 2 and 6'where the side walls 20 and 22 are spaced fromeach other at a less width adjacent the top of the bolster than thewidth of the bottom plate [8.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 10 and in a region outwardly ofthe central portion of the bolster, the side walls 50 and 52 do notextend entirely to the top plate 42 and openings 56 are thereby providedas will be evident from a consideration of Figs. 8 and 10. In thisregion of the bolster and outwardly of the'central portion, the sidewalls 50 and 52" diverge outwardly as will be apparent from aconsideration of Fig. 9 and ultimately attain the width er the top plate42 at the zone indicated by the line 58 in Fig. 8. This line also marksthe outward end of the openings 56 where the side walls 50' and 52 mergein a common plane with the flanges 44 and 46. Thereafter, the side Walls50 and 52 continue in a parallel relationship to the end of the bolsteras shown particularly in Fig. 9.

In this embodiment, the center plate 40 may be further reinforced andsupported by means; of transverse ribs 60 extending between the sidewalls 50 and 52 and transverse ribs 62 extending between the flanges 44and 46 and the side walls. The bolster may be provided with a sidebearing support 64. Longitudinal ribbing 66 may also be provided in thebolster for adding the necessary strength characteristics. In thebolster shown in Figs. '7 to 10, openings are provided in the side walls50 and 52 to accommodate the brake lever connecting rod which may passthrough these bolster openings and form a part of the brake rigging.

The bolster shown in Fig. 11 is adapted roa use with vacuum operatedtype brakes as employed in some foreign countries, and particularly inSouth America. In such a brake system, the brake levers are vertical andare located on the longitudinal center line of the truck. A singleopening H is accordingly provided in the opposite side walls 20 and 22of the bolster to permit the brake lever connecting rod to passtherethrough. The rods through arrangements of the bolster as shown inFig. 11 and in Figs. 7 to 10 have the advantage over the rods under typein that no safety device for the lever connecting rod is required. Thebolster herein disclosed in Fig. 11 is Well adapted to the use of acentral opening at H for the rods through brake rigging because theusual center post construction has been eliminated.

In the construction of the bolster herein described, the castingoperation is facilitated by the absence of the center post and theattendant junctures of this center post structure with other parts ofthe bolster and the casting problem is thereby materially simplified.The bolsters herein described are also particularly well suited to hightensil steel design so as to provide relatively light weight bolstersbut it will be understood that the invention is not to be restricted toimprovements in any particular grade of steel or other types of metalwhich may be employed in forming the bolster assembly. The narrowerbottom plate tends to make the bolsters herein described. more nearlyconform to theoretical beam action both as to calculated stresses anddeflection. The removal of the conventional center posts avoids themedial thrust on the bottom plate and the relatively close positionedside walls provide adequate support for the center plate of the bolsterwithout the center post. Even though some of the sections of the bolsterwalls of the present design are slightly heavier (an advantage from thefoundry standpoint), the net result of the removal of the center postand other structural features of the bolster, provides a reduction inthe weight and accordingly a saving in the amount of metal required incasting the bolster.

While the invention has been described with reference to specificstructural features of the bolster, it will be understood that changesmay be made in detailed features and in the general organization of thebolster structure. Such modifications and others may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth inthe appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bolster, a top compression member, a center plate carried bysaid compression member, a bottom member of narrower width than said topmember at the central portion of the bolster, substantially verticalside walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member andjoining the top member at said central portion inwardly from the sideedges thereof, said side walls being joined to the edges of the bottommember throughout the entire length of the bottom member, dependingflanges carried by the outer edges of said top member, and said wallsmerging with said flanges outwardly of the central portion of thebolster.

2. In a bolster, a top compression member, a center plate carried bysaid compression mem-v ber, a bottom member of narrower width than saidtop member at the central portion of the bolster, substantially verticalside walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member andjoining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof at saidcentral portion, an integral connection between the edges; of the bottommember and the side walls throughout the entire length of the bottommember, depending flanges carried by the outer edges of said top member,and said side walls flaring outwardly in proceeding from the center ofthe bolster and merging with the edges of the top member and saidflanges.

3. In a bolster, a top compression member, a center plate carried bysaid compression member, a bottom member of narrower width than said topmember at the central portion of the bolster, substantially verticalside walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member andjoining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof at thecentral portion, said side Walls being integrally joined to the edges ofthe bottom member throughout the entire length of the bolster, dependingflanges carried by the outer edges of said top member, said side wallsflaring outwardly in proceeding from the center of the bolster andmerging with the edges of the top member and said flanges,

' and transverse ribs between said depending flanges and said sidewalls.

4. In a bolster, a top compression member, a center plate carried bysaid compression member, a bottom member of narrower width than said topmember at the central portion of the bolster, substantially verticalside walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member andjoining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof at thecentral portion, said side walls being integrally joined to the edges ofthe bottom member throughout the entire length of the bottom member,depending flanges carried by the outer edges of said top member, saidside walls flaring outwardly in proceeding from the center plate andmerging with the edges of the top member and said flanges, and said sidewalls having openings therein intermediate the center of the bolster andthe point where the side walls merge with the plane of said flanges.

5. In a bolster, a top plate having parallel side edges, a bottom memberof narrower width than said top member throughout the central portion ofthe bolster, substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly fromthe edges of the bottom member and joining the top member inwardly fromthe side edges thereof at the center of the bolster, said side wallsbeing joined to edges of the bottom member throughout the entire lengthof the bottom member, depending flanges carried by the side edges ofsaid top member overhanging said side walls at the central portion ofthe bolster, and a center plate forming a part of the top plateoverlying the flanges and the upper edges of the side walls with theflanges and the side walls constituting the supporting means for thecenter plate.

6. In a bolster, a top member having parallel side edges, a bottommember of narrower width than said top member, substantially verticalside walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member andjoining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof, said sidewalls being integral with the edges of the bottom member throughout theentire length of the bottom member, depending flanges carried by theouter edges of said top member, said side walls diverging from eachother in proceeding from the center of the bolster and merging with saidflanges short of the ends of the bolster.

7. In a bolster, a top having parallel side edges throughout the centralportion, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member at thecentral portion of the bolster, substantially vertical side wallsextending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member and joining thetop member inwardly from the side edges thereof at the central portion,said side walls being joined with the edges of the bottom memberthroughout the entire length of the bottom member, depending flangescarried by the outer edges of said top member, said side walls flaringoutwardly in proceeding from the center of the bolster and merging withsaid flanges, transverse ribs between said depending flanges and saidside walls, and transverse ribs between the side walls at the centralportion of the bolster.

8. In a bolster, a top member, a center plate carried by said topmember, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member at thecentral portion of the bolster, substantially vertical side wallsextending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member and joining thetop member inwardly from the side edges thereof, said side walls beingjoined to the edges of the bottom member throughout the entire length ofthe bottom member, depending flanges carried by the outer edges of saidtop member, said side walls diverging from each other in proceeding fromthe center of the bolster and merging with said flanges, said side wallshaving openings therein intermediate the center of the bolster and thepoint where the side walls merge with the plane of said flanges, andmeans reinforcing the bolster under the center plate.

9. In a bolster, a top member having parallel side edges, a bottommember of narrower width than said top member, substantially verticalside walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member andjoining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof, said sidewalls being joined to the edges of the bottom member throughout theentire length of the bottom member, depending flanges carried by theouter edges of said top member, said side walls diverging from eachother in proceeding from the center of the bolster and merging with saidflanges short of the ends of the bolster, and said side walls havingaligned openings therein adjacent the center of the bolster.

10. In a bolster, a top compression member, depending flanges carried bythe side edges of said top member, a center plate carried by saidcompression member, a bottom member of narrower width than said topmember at the central portion of the bolster, side walls, said bottommember having its outer edges oined to said side walls throughout theentire length of the bottom member, said side walls extendingsubstantially vertically from the edges of the bottom member andsubstantially in alignment with the depending flanges and joining thetop member at said central portion inwardly from the side edges thereof.

HARRY W. STERTZBACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 776,045 Bush Nov. 29, 1904831,251 Stucki Sept. 18, 1906 1,189,608 Miyasaki July 4, 1916 1,733,675Stertzbach Oct. 29, 1929 1,873,055 Sherman Aug. 23, 1932 1,931,620 OttOct. 24, 1933

